The losses have not yet been quantified, but the first observations draw a national phenomenon, affecting vineyards and orchards. Standing, several nights in a row, the winegrowers tried everything to fight against the frost, but nothing helped. Neither the candles lit by the thousands, nor the antifreeze wind turbines.
« Freezing cold, down to -4 against which we can not fight. To pronounce on the 2021 harvest is currently impossible, but it is certain, it will be cut. It’s demoralizing », says François Robin, from the Nantes Wines Federation. « We will survey the winegrowers at the end of the month for a more precise estimate of the losses. What is certain is that the repetition of freezes is becoming unsustainable for the industry and that solutions must be found. », adds Laurent Ménestreau, president of the Fédération viticole Anjou Saumur. It is a historic freeze: all production areas have been affected. Orchards protected by sprinkling will yield a harvest. The unprotected orchards suffered variable damage which could go as far as total destruction ”,
describes Josselin Saint-Raymond, director of the National Association of Apples and Pears.
A new cold wave expected
Among the most affected vineyards, the Rhône valley where the entire Côtes-du-Rhône territory has been impacted, but also Burgundy and its 4,000 winegrowers. The early Chardonnay grape was severely affected. White damage is estimated at 50%. All appellations are affected from Chablis to Macon via the Côte-d’Or,
specifies François Labet, president of the Interprofessional Bureau of Burgundy Wines. We can hope that the against buds start again. But they are less fruitful and there will inevitably be a declining harvest.
In the Bordeaux region (110,000 ha of vines), from one property to another, the damage is very disparate. Some properties have been hit 100%. The Saint-Emilion appellation has been strongly impacted. There will necessarily be a decrease in the volume of the harvest. “ describes Sara Briot-Lesage, from the Interprofessional Wine Council of Bordeaux.
A catastrophic situation, especially since the weather forecast return of the cold at the beginning of the week. It’s a whole profession that must adapt to the consequences of climate change.
“We have to work on several avenues: building up stocks in the right years to remain present on the markets in frost years; encourage a compulsory insurance system carried by all surfaces, and therefore less expensive; continue research to better protect the vines; think about grape varieties that are less sensitive to frost ”, considers Laurent Menestreau.
The agricultural calamity regime activated
The agricultural calamity regime will be activated for arborists, announced Thursday the Minister of Agriculture, Julien Denormandie. To be eligible, they must justify a loss of at least 30% of the annual harvest. Winegrowers are not eligible because they can insure their vines against frost.
Only 15% of winegrowers are insured against frost; this proves that this system is not suitable
, critic Bernard Lannes, president of the Coordination Rurale.
There will be situations of distress among arborists. We will need support from the State, the Mutualité sociale agricole, banks and insurance companies ”,
mobilizes Josselin Saint-Raymond.
In exceptional circumstances, exceptional measures are essential ”,
tweeted Christiane Lambert, president of the FNSEA, on the ground in Ardèche with affected fruit producers.
100% destruction by the #gel in them #vergers Alain Mounier who fought for 3 sleepless nights to save his #abricots
The distress of #farmers is palpable, they need solutions #Treasury @J_Denormandie @castex @olivierdussopt are eagerly awaited tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/RfrMYpKPHO– Christiane Lambert (@ChLambert_FNSEA) April 9, 2021
Friday April 9, 2021, Laurent Wauquiez, president of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regional council, like the Association of regions of France, called for the creation of a special compensation fund. The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region has announced the emergency release of 15 million euros for the benefit of its farmers.
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